BUILDING EUROPE'S CAMPUS FOR GLOABL HEALTH
As a flagship university, the University of Hamburg has the mission and self-understanding to spread academic research and innovation well into the metropolitan region of Hamburg. For that purpose, Knowledge Transfer is defined there as the multidirectional flow of ideas, expertise and innovation between the university and external entities, including industry partners, governmental bodies and the wider community and society. UHH's approach to Knowledge Transfer is open and wide, encompassing commercialisation efforts of excellent research to the co-creation and dissemination of academic insights into societal challenges.
Structure and Support Mechanisms
The University of Hamburg has established several supporting structures for knowledge transfer tailored to the needs of the specific target groups on a central level and at faculty level:
The Knowledge Exchange Agency: As a central academic unit at the University of Hamburg, the Knowledge Exchange Agency is committed to “Innovating and Cooperating for a Sustainable Future”. In cooperation with its eight faculties, it promotes knowledge exchange with three centers: the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center, the Career & Qualification Center and the Co-Creation & Engagement Center.
The Research Office for Social Innovation (ROSI) at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences: the ROSI sees itself as an interface between science and society as well as a mediator between teaching and practice. Cooperation partners from society, politics, and the commercial world work together with researchers and students to tackle real and relevant issues, all coordinated, organised and accompanied by the ROSI at the Department of Social Sciences at the University of Hamburg.
MediGate at the University Clinic Eppendorf (UKE): MediGate offers professional support for technology transfer, funding services and clinical studies to scientists of the UKE and their partners. Its aim is the sustainable strengthening of science and research at the UKE by increasing the acquisition of external funding and by commercialising intellectual property rights generated at the UKE.
EXIST and Management Transfer Lab (MTL) at the Faculty of Economics: The MTL is a unique institution at the University of Hamburg Business School. It encourages entrepreneurship and strengthens the transfer from research to economy and society.
The Science and Transfer Center Active City at the Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement Science: It makes scientific findings useful for urban physical activity and sports promotion. Its mission is to evaluate physical activity and the promotion of physical activity in the city, to derive recommendations to support political planning and to strengthen the necessary multi-professional networks. The Center's services are aimed at experts from science and physical activity practice as well as interested citizens.
The Center for Better Work at the Faculty of Psychology and Human Movement Science: The Center focuses on transfer of scientific findings into offers and practical recommendations on the topic of "Shaping the future of work". The activities range from lectures and workshops on topics (e.g. stress management and team meetings) to advice and support for organisations on shaping the hybrid working world through employee surveys and action planning to individual and couple coaching on the topic of "life in balance". Current projects include the development of a New Work online tool for designing collaboration in teams as part of the "New Work@UHH" project, as well as research and derivation of implications in projects for workplace health promotion.
Transfer Hubs in the
Facilities and Resources
In the metropolitan region of Hamburg, there exist several facilities to foster innovation in cooperation with the University of Hamburg:
1) Science City Bahrenfeld: For the very first time, science drives urban development. The vision for 2040 brings together three key areas: expansion of the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY) and of the University of Hamburg's campus in Bahrenfeld and development of the nearby horse racing track. The adjacent Altona public park will serve as a “green heart” by coupling science and research with high-quality living and recreational spaces as well as sport and health facilities. The concept for Science City Bahrenfeld is just the start of a process to take place over the next years and decades, involving the University of Hamburg as well as a number of other scientific institutions. The current plans foresee a brand new modern and attractive suburb designed according to a holistic understanding of science, business, and living with maximum connectivity. The University of Hamburg will assume one of the main roles in the Science City. The visionary urban development project kicked-off with an architectural competition in 2020, with completion planned for 2040.
2) Hamburg Innovation: As a location for innovation, the Hamburg Metropolitan Region lives among other things from the ideas, stimuli and inventions emanating from its universities and research institutes. Furthermore, the Hamburg Innovation shareholders and partners have strong connections not only with the organisation but also between themselves. In this way, joint research consortia and all-embracing solutions for teaching, research and transfer, which can be groundbreaking, are created in Hamburg, a city dubbed the ‘gateway to the world’. In order to build long-term cooperation, Hamburg Innovation exploits the broad repertoire of knowledge and technology transfer in collaboration with Hamburg’s public universities. Hamburg Innovation is primarily a communicative hub and catalyst, helping connect partners’ diverse research with enablers in business and society time and time again.
3) Hamburg – Capital of Foundations: With more than 1.500 foundations, Hamburg has the largest amount and highest density of foundations in Germany. Many of them engage in knowledge transfer and fund public-university partnerships.
4) Knowledge Exchange Funds: Through the Knowledge Exchange Fund, the University of Hamburg supports research-based transfer projects of its members. The aim of the Knowledge Exchange Fund is to provide start-up funding for inter- or transdisciplinary projects that produce a clear transfer product. The University Knowledge Exchange Fund is funded as part of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State Governments, financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. There are also calls for transfer by the city of Hamburg.
Partnerships and Collaboration Models
Co-creation and collaboration is one of the University of Hamburg’s core understandings of Knowledge Transfer. UHH engages with industry and society in a range of models, including:
1) Joint Research Projects, such as a BMBF-funded project with Siemens Healthineers
2) Strategic Alliances like EUGLOH, in which the University of Hamburg is leading the work on Knowledge Transfer.
Impact and Success Stories
Repath: Dr. Thomas Remke and Julius Pröll founded Repath out of their work at the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) of the University of Hamburg. They are transforming climate data into a software solution and a tool for companies. This enables them to anticipate climate risks for their own business. The start-up recently received €3.6 million as venture capital from Greencode Ventures and Lightbird for their outstanding work. The start-up was supported by Startup Port @UHH, the start-up consultancy at the Knowledge Exchange Agency of the University of Hamburg
Contact
For questions regarding knowledge transfer at UHH, please contact transfer@uni-hamburg.de
For questions regarding knowledge transfer of the University of Hamburg within EUGLOH, please contact: eugloh@uni-hamburg.de